Teacher protests to impact Poland and Hungary politics

Significance

Hungary and Poland have since 2022 seen a powerful wave of protests and strikes by educators and students. In both countries, teachers have challenged the overhaul of national curricula in line with the governing Law and Justice (PiS) and Fidesz parties’ right-wing worldview and pushed for better conditions.

Impacts

• Teachers can block the implementation of governing populists’ education policy.
• Public-sector workers' grievances will inform the election manifestos of Polish opposition parties.
• The conflict in the education sector will make it difficult to fill teacher vacancies in both Poland and Hungary.